Clutch-operating device



(No Model.)

J. B. SMITH. CLUTCH OPERATING DEVICE. No. 535,264. Patented Mar. 5 1895.

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Ma /m PATENT rricnt JOSEPH BRODIE SMITH, OE MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

CLUTCH-OPERATING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,264, dated March 5,1895.

Application filed May 2, 1894. Serial No. 509,784. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BRODIE SMITH, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Manchester, in the county of Hillsborough and State ofNew Hampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements inClutch-Opcrating Devices, of which the following, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in clutch operating devices forthe purpose of stopping and starting machinery at any desired distancefrom the place where the clutch on the driving shaft is located. Forinstance the starting device may be located in another room in thebuilding in which the clutch is arranged or it may be arranged inanother building at a greater or less distance from the place where thepower shaft is located.

The invention is particularly well adapted for use in electric powerplants which may be located at some distance from the office of thesuperintendent, manager, (50., and by the use of this my invention thedynamo in such electric plant may be started or stopped at intervals atthe will of the person in charge of such office. Although particularlywell adapted for the purpose above mentioned it is equally useful forthe purpose of starting and stopping machinery that may be located at agreater or less distance from the place occupied by the superintendentor manager or other person in charge.

In connection with such clutch operating device I use a suitableindicator or alarm or both as may be desired so as to show whether themachine is running or at rest.

Where it is desired to operate anumber of different clutches from oneand the same central station or office I prefer to employ a switch boardhaving a series of dials with handles or levers for starting andstopping the individual machines, and-having a series of indicators, oneor more for each starting and stopping device to enable the person incharge to ascertain at a glance which one or which ones of the machinesin the series are at rest or in operation.

The invention is carried out as follows, ref

erence being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1,represents a side elevation of the invention parts thereof being shownin section. Fig. 2, represents a detail front elevation of the switchboard mentioned for multiple clutches to be operated from a centralstation.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on thedifferent parts of the drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1, A represents the main driving shaft which is inconstant rotation or at such desired hours as maybe needed for operatingthe machines driven by it.

B represents the shaft connected to the machine which is to be set inoperation when connected to the main driving shaft A.

O is a suitable friction or other clutch de vice by means of which theshaft B may be connected to or disconnected from the driving shaft as isusual in devices of this kind, and I wish to state that I do not wish tolimit myself to the use or employment of any particular clutch mechanismas any well known form or construction thereof may be used withoutdeparting from the essence of my invention.

The sliding portion 0' of the clutch is suitably connected to a switchlever D as is common in clutch operating devices and need not here bedescribed in detail. The said lever D is pivoted preferably at its upperend cl and has its lower end suitably connected to a piston rod 6 of apiston or plunger E adapted to be moved forward and back Within thecylinder E as shown in Fig. 1.

X in Fig. 1 is supposed to represent the office or station from whichthe clutch is to be operated, such station or office being located at agreater or less distance from the power station or clutch as hereinabove set forth. At such central station X I arrange a suitable valve orcut off F preferably provided with a four way cock F having transversepassages f, and f.

G and G are pipes leading from the opposite ends of the cylinder E toopposite sides of the valve or out off F.

His the supply pipe leading to the valve F from any suitable source ofhydraulic or air pressure (or vacuum if desired) and I is the dischargepipe leading from the said valve or cut off F as shown in Fig. 1.

g and g are pressure (or vacuum) indicators located on the respectivepipes G and G at opposite sides of the valve or cut off F as shown insaid Fig 1.

F is a suitable handle or lever attached to the cock F by means of whichthe latter is operated.

To throw the clutch off from the driving shaft A all that is necessaryto do is to turn the cock F to the position shown in Fig. 1 causingcommunication to be established from pressure supply pipe H throughvalve portfto pipe G and rear end of cylinder E by which its piston andpiston rod are moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 causing the lever Dto be moved to the position shown by which the clutch is operated todetach shaft B from driving shaft A and will be held in such position aslong as the valve plug F remains in the position shown in Fig. 1 inwhich position the forward end of cylinder E is connected to thedischarge pipe I by means of pipe G and port f in the cock F allowingthe liquid in front of piston E to be discharged freely through the pipeI as shown in said Fig. 1.

While the clutch is thrown off as above stated the pressure is on in thegage g and off in the opposite gage 9 indicating at a glance to theperson in charge that the clutch is in such thrown off position.

If it is desired to throw on the clutch all that is necessary to do isto turn the cock F so as to establish communication between the supplypipe H and pipe G and between the discharge pipe I and pipe G by whichthe piston E is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the oppositeend of its cylinder causing the lever D to be swung toward said cylinderand causing the clutch to be thrown on and while in such position thepressure will be on the gage g and off from the opposite gage 9 showingto the person in charge that the clutch is in operation on the desiredshaft or machine.

I have shown the clutch as operated by bydraulic pressure but this isnot essential as if so desired, steam, air or gas pressure or vacuum maybe used for the same purpose without departing from the essence of myinvention. In connection with this my improved clutch operating device Iprefer to use a suitable electric sight or sound alarm or signal and Ihave for this purpose shown an electric alarm or signal box K located atthe office and connected to circuit closers Z, Z, and Z Z by means ofwires M and M as shown in Fig. 1.

N is the battery in the circuit. On opposite sides of the lever D arecircuit closing projections O 0 adapted to be intermittently brought inmetallic contact with the respective circuit closers or sweepers Z, Z,and Z Z as the said lever is swung to the limit of its stroke inthrowing 011 or off the clutch by which the circuit is closed throughthe alarm or signal K and battery N thus giving notice and showing tothe person in charge of office or room X that the clutch is off or on asthe case may be.

, The alarm and signal K may preferably be made of the electricannunciator kind patented by me November 10, 1891, No. 463,001,

although other suitable electric alarms or signals combined may be usedfor such purpose.

When a number of clutches are to be actuated from a central office I mayprefer to use therein a suitable switch board P as shown in Fig. 2containing a series of valve levers F F and signal or pressureindicators 9 g as shown in said Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation ofmy invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim 1. In anapparatus for operating a clutch from a distance, the combination with aclutch and its lever, of a cylinder having a piston connected to theclutch lever, pipes connecting the opposite ends of the cylinder to asource of pressure or vacuum, a reversing valve connected with saidpipes to control the pressure on opposite sides of the piston, andpressure gages in communication with the pipes near said valve,substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for operating a clutch from a distance, thecombination with a clutch and its lever, of a cylinder having a pistonconnected to the clutch lever, pipes connecting the opposite ends of thecylinder to a source of pressure or vacuum, a reversing valve connectedwith said pipes, and an electric alarm or indicator connected with theclutch lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 25th day of April, A. D.1894..

JOSEPH BRODIE SMITH.

Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDRFN, KITTIE M. HANSON.

IIO

